Vette has been dead for 6 months!
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Vette has been dead for 6 months!
Sent C5 to Corvette mechanic for dead BCM. Card was repaired, certified to work by repair shop, plugged in, but car is still dead. If he bypasses the BCM the car starts, then shuts down. Mechanic thought a wire was short and started going wire by wire to find problem. Its been 6 months in the shop. Now mechanic is looking for a replacement BCM thinking the original repair is the problem. I want my car back! Is there anything I can suggest to the mechanic to try to get this BCM card working?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,239
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
Sent C5 to Corvette mechanic for dead BCM. Card was repaired, certified to work by repair shop, plugged in, but car is still dead. If he bypasses the BCM the car starts, then shuts down. Mechanic thought a wire was short and started going wire by wire to find problem. Its been 6 months in the shop. Now mechanic is looking for a replacement BCM thinking the original repair is the problem. I want my car back! Is there anything I can suggest to the mechanic to try to get this BCM card working?
By "card" I assume somone tried to repair the BCM PCB? Kinda waste of time given risk v/s reward, and BCMs are available and relatively inexpensive.
First pull and post your codes from the DIC.
A few possibilities:
1) The BCM repair was unsuccessful
2) The BCM lost programming when repaired
3) The key is not being read by the lock cylinder
4) Your mechanic has no idea what they are doing ( I think this is a given)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 793
From: Espanola New Mexico
Was the BCM repaired by a reputable repair service, it's very likely that the BCM is still at fault. Before springing for a second replacement BCM, do you know if they performed a key relearn procedure?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
[QUOTE=lucky131969;1609269881]Just to get aligned on terminology, if you say the car is "dead", that suggests to most readers that you have no electrical power whatsoever.....but then you say the car starts, which obviously suggests there is sufficent electrical power to start the engine.
By "card" I assume somone tried to repair the BCM PCB? Kinda waste of time given risk v/s reward, and BCMs are available and relatively inexpensive.
First pull and post your codes from the DIC.
A few possibilities:
1) The BCM repair was unsuccessful
2) The BCM lost programming when repaired
3) The key is not being read by the lock cylinder
4) Your mechanic has no idea what they are doing ( I think this is a given)
By "card" I assume somone tried to repair the BCM PCB? Kinda waste of time given risk v/s reward, and BCMs are available and relatively inexpensive.
First pull and post your codes from the DIC.
A few possibilities:
1) The BCM repair was unsuccessful
2) The BCM lost programming when repaired
3) The key is not being read by the lock cylinder
4) Your mechanic has no idea what they are doing ( I think this is a given)
Last edited by Suziquzi; Nov 27, 2025 at 11:57 AM. Reason: Not on right thread?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
BCM trouble
You are totally right, not a car person so probably not using right tech verbage. The car has electricity but will not start. Turn the key and it is dead silent, no clicking, lights on dash does light up, but wont start - dead. Steering wheel is not locked.There are only two Certified Corvette mechanic shops where I live, i choose the one with the best reputation.We recently upgraded the stereo and put in a backup camera. Also repaired the steering wheel column lock. Also just had a fender bender on drivers side front. Mechanic says those arent related to problem.I dont have error codes...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,239
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
You are totally right, not a car person so probably not using right tech verbage. The car has electricity but will not start. Turn the key and it is dead silent, no clicking, lights on dash does light up, but wont start - dead. Steering wheel is not locked.There are only two Certified Corvette mechanic shops where I live, i choose the one with the best reputation.We recently upgraded the stereo and put in a backup camera. Also repaired the steering wheel column lock. Also just had a fender bender on drivers side front. Mechanic says those arent related to problem.I dont have error codes...
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,749
Likes: 932
From: Orlando Florida
If your DIC is working and you or your tech has access to the car then it’s pretty simple to pull the codes — and if you already know this, I assure you no condescension is intended. One suggestion I’ve read here somewhere is to use your phone to record the codes for perusal and transcription.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,212
From: Temple Texas
You are totally right, not a car person so probably not using right tech verbage. The car has electricity but will not start. Turn the key and it is dead silent, no clicking, lights on dash does light up, but wont start - dead. Steering wheel is not locked.There are only two Certified Corvette mechanic shops where I live, i choose the one with the best reputation.We recently upgraded the stereo and put in a backup camera. Also repaired the steering wheel column lock. Also just had a fender bender on drivers side front. Mechanic says those arent related to problem.I dont have error codes...
This is a section of the service manual related to the BCM. Some of these may not apply to your car, depending on which version you have.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 249
Likes: 59
From: Virginia
You are totally right, not a car person so probably not using right tech verbage. The car has electricity but will not start. Turn the key and it is dead silent, no clicking, lights on dash does light up, but wont start - dead. Steering wheel is not locked.There are only two Certified Corvette mechanic shops where I live, i choose the one with the best reputation.We recently upgraded the stereo and put in a backup camera. Also repaired the steering wheel column lock. Also just had a fender bender on drivers side front. Mechanic says those arent related to problem.I dont have error codes...
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
You are totally right, not a car person so probably not using right tech verbage. The car has electricity but will not start. Turn the key and it is dead silent, no clicking, lights on dash does light up, but wont start - dead. Steering wheel is not locked.There are only two Certified Corvette mechanic shops where I live, i choose the one with the best reputation.We recently upgraded the stereo and put in a backup camera. Also repaired the steering wheel column lock. Also just had a fender bender on drivers side front. Mechanic says those arent related to problem.I dont have error codes...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,117
Likes: 793
From: Espanola New Mexico
The OP is having BCM problems, everything seems to work except the car will not crank over. Six months in the shop which I believe they do not have experience and technical knowledge to repair his C5.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 249
Likes: 59
From: Virginia
If they've had the car for six months and it's not fixed, they're not doing anything with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,954
Likes: 711
Probly waiting for an eagor apprentice to tackle the problem right out of school to prove herself or he.
